Too much exposition sometimes, which is why I knocked off a star, but that's because I've read most of the series this ties into, and I knew all of what they were talking about. It's probably more useful for what they're really hoping for: new readers who pick this up for free and like it enough to start reading the series.

And me complaining about this one thing really shouldn't stop anyone from picking this up if they were interested. It wasn't that bad, and I really, really love this series which is why I picked it up in the first place. And this feels very much like that series: the same warmth and banter is there. That same focus on the Turtles as a family, and not only that a family who wants to do good in the world in any way they can.

The art is just as slick and fun as in the original series. None of this should be a surprise: it's the same writers and artist. And I'm glad I picked this up and read this, because it's not a series I follow regularly so much as something I pick up on the sales at Comixology. I tend to prefer reading a whole volume of this at once, thus the sales, the volumes, and the binging when I get them. So this was a nice way to keep up with the series.

In 2000, Kevin Smith, Phil Hester and Ande Parks revived Green Arrow into a 3rd series, where it follows the aftermath of a crossover entitled The Final Night where Hal Jordan's Green Lantern sacrifice himself to a Sun Eater to reignite the sun. He brought back Oliver Queen, the original Green Arrow from the dead after he died in a tragically witness by Superman. Collected from issues #1 to 15, Kevin Smith had spun not just a good introduction of bringing back Oliver Queen but had given this title a revival that became one of the most readable comics in the year 2000.

I read this because of one person - Kevin Smith. He has been an awesome writer to me that not only direct but write good stories that really knows how. He is a natural when it comes to words and with Phil Hester's artwork and Ande Parks inking, this is a team that really bring the best part of how Green Arrow would be. Words a side, I was never a fan of Green Arrow and I did for one time think he is a lame character but reading this tradepaperback really brings a good sense that he is cool and flawed, just like how Wally West is as The Flash. With the now current Arrow TV series and running a good four seasons with a current 5th season airing, if you have ever wonder which Green Arrow comic book to read, this might be one of them you should pick it up.

I was a big fan of The Six Million Dollar Man as a kid, and when I got a little older I stumbled onto -- and devoured (repeatedly) -- Martin Caidin's Cyborg. Throw in a strong appreciation for Smith's work? And I'm clearly the target audience for this (so why did it take me 3+ years to read it? Good question).

The main story hasn't changed: Steve Austin is a test-pilot, horrifically injured -- almost killed -- when a test flight goes wrong. A team of experts save his life, rebuild him with bionics, and set him loose fighting for truth, justice, and the American way and so on.

The story was nothing special -- good, solid action/adventure story. There were a couple of nice twists on the TV show's story/characters. Just enough to keep it updated and fresh. I'd have appreciated something closer to Cyborg, but I understand why they made the choices they made. Austin goes up against his bionic predecessor, who has gone rogue and now is running around attacking and raiding technology companies. The battle scenes may have been a bit too big and epic -- but they fit in with the current cinema trends, so, I guess they worked.

I was sure I'd seen Jonathan Lau's art somewhere before, but from what I can tell, I haven't. Which is a shame -- it's great. I'm not going to say that it's my favorite comic art -- but it's exactly what I want comic art to look like. Which seems like a contradiction, but let's move on. Yeah, some of the gestures are over-done, and a couple of the men are just too huge. But otherwise, dynamic, easy to tell character-from-character, nice detail, overall very attractive. I'd be willing to give a book a second look just because of his art in the future.

There are some nice references -- visual and verbal -- to the TV series that are pretty seamlessly worked in. Which I appreciated -- looks like the next volume will be less subtle about it (which is not necessarily bad). I'm not going to say this was a great comic that leaves me chomping at the bit for the next, but it was worth the time and entertaining. Not much more to ask for.

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